Dhaka: Bangladesh’s former prime minister Begum Khaleda Zia passed away after prolonged illness at the Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on Tuesday morning. She was 80.
Her death comes months before the general elections in the country, slated for February, in which her Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) is the main contender. Her son Tarique Rahman, acting chairman of the BNP, returned to Bangladesh after 17 years recently.
The widow of former Bangladesh president and Army chief Ziaur Rahman, Khaleda was the first woman prime minister of Bangladesh and served for two terms from 1991 to 1996 and again 2001 to 2006.
She
breathed her last at 6 am on Tuesday, according to a statement issued by her party, as reported by NDTV.
She was under treatment for the past 36 days since being admitted on November 23 with infections in her heart and lungs. She was also suffering from pneumonia, according to the Bangladeshi daily The Daily Star.
“The BNP chairperson and former prime minister, the national leader Begum Khaleda Zia, passed away today at 6.00 am, just after the Fajr (dawn) prayer,” the BNP said in a statement.
“We pray for the forgiveness of her soul and request everyone to offer prayers for her departed soul,” it added.
Khaleda had long been battling multiple health complications, including liver cirrhosis, arthritis, diabetes, and chronic issues affecting her kidneys, lungs, heart, and eyes. Her treatment was being overseen by specialists from Bangladesh, the UK, the US, China, and Australia.
There was an initiative to take her abroad for treatment earlier this month, but it could not proceed due to her fragile condition.